Ex-Vivo Liver Splitting During Normothermic Machine Perfusion. A Novel Method to Achieve the Best of Both Worlds

Abstract

Introduction: Split liver transplantation addresses donor shortages by permitting the transplant of 2 recipients using a single liver. Liver splitting can be performed in an ice-bath using the ex-vivo technique, or during the donor operation using the in-situ technique. Normothermic machine perfusion could permit these livers to be split ex-vivo while continuously perfused. This combines the advantages of both ex-vivo (convenience) and in-situ techniques (shorter cold ischaemic time).